Sign and display systems

ABSTRACT

A sign and display system including a faceplate, lens, backing plate, and at least one magnet is described. The faceplate includes a viewing aperture and the back of the faceplate includes a recess in which the at least one magnet is mounted. The recess in the faceplate is configured to receive the lens and backing plate. The lens may include one or more edge protrusions configured to enter one or more small recesses in the side of the faceplate recess to secure the lens to the faceplate. When the lens and backing plate are positioned in the recess of the faceplate, the one or more magnets exert a force on the backing plate to secure the faceplate and lens to the backing plate. An insert capable of displaying text and/or graphics can also be positioned between the lens and backing plate in the recess of the faceplate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/242,561, filed Apr. 1, 2014, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to sign and display systems, such asoffice and workstation sign and display systems, and more particularlyrelates to systems that include a faceplate, lens, backing plate, and atleast one magnet. The sign and display systems can be adhered to a wallsurface and display text and/or graphics through the lens.

BACKGROUND

Sign and display systems are used for presenting information. Forexample, interior sign and display systems are used in an officeenvironment as workstation signs and office displays. Sign and displaysystems are typically attached to a wall surface or partitions (e.g.,cubicle partitions, partition walls, and glass partitions). Some signand display systems include inserts on which text and graphics may beprinted. The inserts can be permanently or removably attached to thesign and display systems. For example, some sign and display systemsrequire a user to slide the insert into a thin slot. In such systems, itcan be difficult to insert and remove these inserts.

The assignee of the present disclosure, L&M Architectural Graphics,Inc., produced a sign system that included a faceplate and a backingplate. The backing plate was attachable to a wall surface and thefaceplate is secured to the backing plate using two round magneticsembedded in the faceplate. The faceplate of this prior sign system isshown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the back of faceplate 10.Faceplate 10 includes a back surface 12 and a recessed back surface 14.The space between the plane of back surface 12 and the plane of recessedback surface 14 within internal edge 16 forms a recess. An insertcapable of displaying text and/or graphics may be placed in the recessadjacent to recessed surface 14. The text and/or graphics are visiblefrom the front of faceplate 10 through viewing aperture 18. A backingplate (not shown) is configured to fit into the displayed recess of thefaceplate. The shape of the backing plate edge is similar to the shapeof inside edge 16. Two circular magnets 19A and 19B are embedded inrecessed surface 14 such that the visible surfaces of magnets 19A and19B are in the same plane as the plane of recessed back surface 3.Magnets 19A and 19B removably secure faceplate 10 to the backing plate.The prior sign system, which includes the faceplate shown in FIG. 1,however, does not include any lens to protect the insert.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates generally to sign and display systemscomprising a faceplate, lens, a backing plate, and at least one magnet.Sign and display systems can be configured to adhere to a wall surfaceand display any suitable content or information such as text and/orgraphics.

In some embodiments, the faceplate of the sign and display systemcomprises front and back surfaces, and a viewing aperture configured toenable one to see through the faceplate when the faceplate is viewedperpendicular to its front surface. The back surface may include arecessed back surface and at least one internal edge connecting therecessed back surface to the back surface. The recessed back surface andthe at least one internal edge define a recess in the back of thefaceplate. The at least one magnet may be mounted proximate to therecessed back surface of the faceplate. In some embodiments, the atleast one magnet may be partially recessed into the recessed backsurface. The lens of the wall sign comprises two surfaces and isconfigured to fit within the recess in the back surface of thefaceplate. In some embodiments, the lens may include one or more edgeprotrusions configured to enter one or more small recesses in the atleast one internal edge of the faceplate. In some embodiments, the lensmay include one or more edge recesses to accommodate the one or moremagnets. The backing plate of the wall sign also comprises two surfaces,and similarly is configured to fit within the recess in the back surfaceof the faceplate. The backing plate is comprised of a ferromagneticmaterial. When the lens and backing plate are positioned in the recessof the back surface of the faceplate, one surface of the lens faces therecessed surface, and the opposite surface of the lens faces the backingplate, and the at least one magnet exerts a force on the backing plateto maintain the faceplate, lens, and backing plate together. In someembodiments, the rear of the backing plate may include one or moresticky mediums for attachment to a surface.

In some embodiments, an insert displaying content or information such astext and/or graphics may be positioned between the lens and backingplate, and the sign and display system may be adhered to a surface(e.g., a wall surface, partition, or door), such that the text and/orgraphics of the insert are visible from the front of the faceplate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The above and other features of the present disclosure, its nature andvarious advantages will be more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the back of a faceplate of a prior art signsystem;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the front of a faceplate of a sign and displaysystem in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the back of the faceplate in accordance withsome embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the faceplate in accordancewith some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a lens in accordance with some embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a curved edge of the lens in accordancewith some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the back surface of a backing plate inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an installed wall sign, taken alongline 8-8 of FIG. 3, in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the components of the sign and displaysystem in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a panel of illustrative shapes and geometries of faceplatesin accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the back of a faceplate in accordance withsome embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a lens in accordance with some embodiments ofthe present disclosure; and

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the front surface of a backing plate inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present disclosure is directed towards sign and display systems. Insome embodiments, the sign and display system of the present disclosurecomprises a faceplate, lens, backing plate, and one or more magnets. Thefaceplate may include a front surface that is visible and a back surfacethat includes a recess for mounting the one or more magnets and forreceiving the lens and the backing plate. FIGS. 2-4 show different viewsof faceplate 20 in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the front of faceplate 20 in accordance withsome embodiments of the present disclosure. Faceplate 20 includes frontsurface 22 and viewing aperture 24. In some embodiments, front surface22 may be a flat surface. In some embodiments, front surface 22 mayinclude raised numbers and/or letters. For example, front surface 22 mayinclude raised numbers and/or letters to identify a particularworkstation. In some embodiments, front surface 22 may be a texturedsurface. Faceplate 20 may be made of any suitable material orcombination of materials. For example, faceplate 20 may be made of metal(e.g., aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, stainless steel, and/ortitanium), plastic (e.g., acrylic, petg, pvc, delrin, polycarbonate,and/or high density urethane), a solid surface (e.g., solid surfacessold under the trademarks Corian and Avonite), wood, recycled material(e.g., recycled paper boards sold under the trademark PaperStone), anyother suitable material, and any combination thereof. Viewing aperture24 enables one to see through faceplate 20, for example, when faceplate20 is viewed generally perpendicular to front surface 22. Asillustrated, faceplate 22 and viewing aperture 24 are rectangular inshape. However, in some embodiments, the faceplate and viewing aperturemay be any suitable shape and/or size.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the back of faceplate 20 in accordance withsome embodiments of the present disclosure. Faceplate 20 includes backsurface 32 and recessed surface 34. At least one external edge connectsback surface 32 and front surface 22. As illustrated, the at least oneexternal edge comprises four straight edges in the shape of a rectangle.Aperture 24 is also visible from the back of faceplate 20. In theillustrated embodiment, internal edges 36A-D connect recessed surface 34to back surface 32. Thus, the plane of recessed surface 34 and internaledges 36A-D define a recess in the back of faceplate 20. Recessedsurface 34 comprises recesses 38A and 38B, which are configured toreceive magnets 39A and 39B. In some embodiments, a portion of each ofmagnets 39A and 39B extends below the plane of recessed surface 34 intorespective recesses 38A and 39B. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG.3, recesses 38A and 38B are oval shaped and magnets 39A and 39B arerectangular in shape. In some embodiments, recesses 38A and 38B andmagnets 39A and 29B may be any suitable shapes and/or sizes, so long asthe shape of recesses 38A and 38B is capable of receiving the shape ofmagnets 39A and 39B. In some embodiments, the shape of magnets 39A and39B, and the shape of recesses 38A and 39B, may be round, triangular,square, rectangular, or any other suitable shape or combination ofshapes. It will be understood that two magnets do not need to be used.In some embodiments, less or more than two magnets may be used. In theillustrated embodiment, recessed surface 34 is displayed as rectangularin shape, with four curved edges, one at each corner of the rectangularshape. Recessed surface 34 may be any suitable shape that is capable ofreceiving a corresponding lens, insert, and backing plate.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of faceplate 20 in accordancewith some embodiments of the present disclosure. The perspective view ofFIG. 4 illustrates additional detail of faceplate 20. As shown, magnets39A and 39B protrude from recesses 38A and 38B. As such, magnets 39A and39B extend above and below the opening of recesses 38A and 38B. In someembodiments, magnets 39A and 39B extend above the opening of recesses38A and 38B a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the lens.FIG. 4 also shows one of small recesses 42 in internal edge 36A. Asimilar recess (not shown) is also present in internal edge 36C. Smallrecesses 42 are shaped such that they are configured to receive edgeprotrusions of a lens when the lens is positioned adjacent to recessedsurface 34 in the recess of back surface 32 of faceplate 20. Asillustrated, small recesses 42 comprise rectangular openings and concaveshapes, configured to receive convex shaped protrusions of the lens. Itwill be understood that the shape of small recesses 42 is merelyillustrative and that the shape of small recesses 42 may be any suitableshape that is capable of receiving the edge protrusions of a lens. Aswill be explained in more detail below, the protrusions of the lens andsmall recesses 42 operate together to help secure the lens to faceplate20.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of lens 50 in accordance with some embodiments ofthe present disclosure. Lens 50 may be a sheet of a transparent ortranslucent medium. For example, lens 50 may be made of glass, plastic,or any other suitable transparent or translucent material. In someembodiments, lens 50 may be made of acrylic, polycarbonate, petg,acetate, and/or glass. Lens 50 comprises four straight edges 52A-D andfour curved edges 54A-D, where each curved edge connects the ends of twostraight edges as illustrated. Opposite edges 52B and 52D compriserespective indentations 56B and 56A and opposite edges 52A and 52Ccomprise respective protrusions 58A and 58B. In the illustratedembodiment, lens 50 is configured to fit into the recess in the back offaceplate 20, such that magnets 39A and 39B of faceplate 20 pass throughindentations 56A and 56B. Indentations 56A and 56B are shown asrectangular in shape to accommodate the rectangular shape of magnets 39Aand 39B, however, it will be understood that indentations 56A and 56Bmay be any suitable shape which allows the magnets of the faceplate topass through the indentations. In some embodiment, indentations 56A and56B may be replaced with apertures configured to accommodate respectivemagnets 39A and 39B. Convex protrusions 58A and 58B are shaped such thatthey will fit into recesses 42 of faceplate 20, however, it will beunderstood that protrusions 58A and 58B may be any suitable shape suchthat they are able to be inserted into recesses 42. It will also beunderstood that any suitable number of protrusion and respectiverecesses may be used. When protrusions 58A and 58B are inserted intorespective recesses 42 of faceplate 20, the fitting of the protrusionsin the recesses enables lens 50 to be secured to faceplate 20. In theillustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, the distance between the ends ofprotrusions 58A and 58B is greater than the distance between internaledges 36A and 36C of faceplate 20. Therefore, in some embodiments, lens50 is capable of being elastically bent to reduce the linear distancebetween protrusions 58A and 58B to enable the protrusions to passbetween internal edges 36A and 36C of faceplate 20. When lens 50, in abent shape, is positioned in the recess of faceplate 20, such that theprotrusions 58A and 58B are aligned with the openings of respectiverecesses 42, the lens may be released from its bent shape causing thelens to return to its original shape. As lens 50 returns to its originalshape, the linear distance between protrusions 58A and 58B increases,which causes the protrusions to enter into respective recesses 42.

It will be understood that the edge shape of lens 50 is merelyillustrative and that any suitable shape may be used that enables thelens to fit into the recess of faceplate 20. As illustrated, lens 50includes curved edges 54A-D. These curves match respective curves in theinternal edge of the recess in faceplate 20. FIG. 6 is an enlarged viewof curved edge 54B of lens 50 in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent disclosure. While the enlarged curved edge illustrated in FIG. 6is referred to as edge 54B of lens 50, the shape and description of thecurved edge of FIG. 6 may also apply to the other curved edges of lens50, as well as to the curved edges of the recess in faceplate 20 and thecurved edges of the backing plate. As illustrated, curved edge 54Bconnects the ends of straight edges 52B and 52C, where straight edges52B and 52C may be considered to be two of four straight edges whichform the sides of a rectangle. Curved edge 54B is located at the cornerof the rectangle formed by the straight edges 52B and 52C, where curve54B extends beyond the corner of the rectangle. Curved edge 54B isapproximately symmetrical about angle bisector axis 62, which extendsthrough the corner of the rectangle where curved edge 23 is located.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the back surface of backing plate 70 inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Asillustrated, backing plate 70 comprises four straight edges and fourcurved edges, such that each curved edge connects two straight edges.The shape of backing plate 70 may be the same as the shape of lens 50,without the recesses and protrusions in the straight edges of lens 50.Backing plate 70 is configured to fit into the recess of faceplate 20.It will be understood that the shape of backing plate 70 may be anysuitable shape that is capable of being positioned in the recess offaceplate 20. As illustrated, sticky mediums 72A and 72B are attached tothe back surface of backing plate 70. Sticky mediums 72A and 72B may bemade of a material having adhesive properties. For example, stickymediums 72A and 72B may be double-sided tape. Sticky mediums 72A and 72Bare configured to adhere backing plate 70 to a surface, such as a wallsurface. Sticky mediums 72A and 72B are illustrated as being rectangularin shape, however, they can be any suitable shape that enables backingplate 70 to adhere to a surface. It will also be understood that less ormore than two sticky mediums may be used to adhere backing plate 70 to asurface. In some embodiments, backing plate 70 may be attached to asurface using any other suitable attachment technique or combination oftechniques. For example, in some embodiments backing plate 70 mayinclude one or more recessed screw holes so that backing plate 70 can beattached to a surface using one or more screws. Backing plate 70 mayalso be attached to a surface using hanging clips, brackets, fabricpins, glues and adhesives, hook and loop fasteners (e.g., hook and loopfasteners sold under the trademark Velcro), snaps, buttons, any othersuitable attachment techniques, and any combination thereof.

Backing plate 70 may be made of a ferromagnetic material, such that whenlens 50 and backing plate 70 are positioned in the recess of faceplate20, at least one magnet, for example, magnet 39A and/or 39B, exerts aforce on backing plate 70 to maintain faceplate 20, lens 50, and backingplate 70 together. Generally speaking, in operation, the backing plateis typically first attached to a surface. Then, the lens and an insertare positioned in the recess of the faceplate. With the recess of thefaceplate aligned with the backing plate, the faceplate is moved towardsthe backing plate so that the backing plate enters the recess of thefaceplate. When the faceplate, together with the lens and an insert, arepositioned onto the backing plate, the faceplate, lens, and insert aresecured to the backing plate, and thus the surface, based on the forceexerted by one or magnetics in the faceplate, such that when the backingplate, lens, and faceplate are all attached, the wall sign will adhereto the wall via sticky mediums 72A and 72B.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an installed sign and displaysystem, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 3, in accordance with someembodiments of the present disclosure. The cross-sectional view showsbacking plate 70 attached to wall 82 via sticky mediums 72A and 72B.Faceplate 20 and lens 50 are secured to backing plate 70 via the forceexerted on backing plate 70 by magnets 39A and 39B. As shown in FIG. 8,the surfaces of magnets 39A and 39B facing backing plate 70 areapproximately in the same plane as the surface of lens 50 that is facingbacking plate 70. This brings magnets 39A and 39B close to backing plate70, which increases the force exerted by magnets 39A and 39B. In someembodiments, an insert (not shown) displaying content or informationsuch as text and/or graphics may be inserted into space 84 shown betweenlens 50 and backing plate 70. When an insert is positioned in space 84,the insert is visible through lens 50 and the viewing aperture offaceplate 20. The insert may be made of a material suitable forpresenting information or content such as text and/or graphics. Forexample, the insert may be made of paper, card stock, plastic, clearacetate, clear film, thin metal, any other suitable material, and anysuitable combination thereof. It will be understood that the presence ofspace 84 is merely illustrative and that in use, lens 50 may be adjacentto backing plate 70 and if an insert is used, one side of the insert maybe adjacent to lens 50 and the other side of the insert may be adjacentto backing plate 70. It will also be understood that the sticky mediums72A and 72B may be any suitable thickness. In some embodiments, stickymediums 72A and 72B may have sufficient thickness such that the sign anddisplay system will appear to be floating off of wall 82.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the components of the sign and displaysystem, showing the order in which they are assembled together, inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention. Faceplate 20is shown as the front of the sign and display system, followed by lens50, and then backing plate 70. As explained above, lens 50 fits into arecess in the rear of faceplate 20. In addition, backing plate 70 alsofits in into the recess of faceplate 20, adjacent to lens 50. Whenassembled, a first surface of lens 50 faces the recessed surface on theback of the faceplate 20, and a second surface of lens 50 faces a firstsurface of backing plate 70. The second surface of backing plate 70 mayhave attached to it at least one sticky medium, such as sticky medium72A and/or 72B, which are used to adhere the sign and display system toa wall surface. In some embodiments, the components of the wall sign mayinclude an insert positioned between lens 50 and backing plate 70.

It will be understood that the curved corners of the recess in thefaceplate and the curved corners of the lens and backing plate may havedifferent shape configurations. For example, instead of the curvedcorners being approximately symmetrical about an angle bisector axis forthe corners, the curved corners may not be symmetric. For example, thecurved corners may be positioned as shown in FIG. 1.

It will also be understood that the shape of the sign and display systemcomponents depicted in FIGS. 2-9 is merely illustrative and that thesign and display system components of the present disclosure can be madein any suitable shapes having any suitable geometries. FIG. 10 is apanel 100 of illustrative shapes and geometries of faceplates inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Panel 100depicts the front surfaces of eight different faceplates havingdifferent shapes and geometries. Each depicted faceplate comprises tworectangular shapes with dimensions noted for the external rectangularshape, which corresponds to the external edge of the faceplate. Theinternal rectangular shape of each depicted faceplate represents thesize and location of the viewing aperture. As illustrated, in someembodiments, the distance between the external edge of the faceplate andthe edge of the viewing aperture may be approximately the same for allfour sides of the faceplate. In some embodiments, the distance betweenthe external edge of the faceplate and the edge of the viewing aperturemay be different for at least one of the sides of the faceplate. It willbe understood that each of the faceplates depicted in FIG. 10 has arecess in its back surface configured to receive a suitably shaped lens,insert, and backing plate. It will be understood that the faceplatesdepicted in FIG. 10 and other sized faceplates of the present disclosuremay have recesses sized to fit any suitably sized inserts. For example,the sign and display systems of the present disclosure may be configuredto receive inserts having the following sizes: business card sizes(e.g., 3.5″×2″), index card sizes (e.g., 3″×5″ and 4″×6″), post cardsizes (e.g., 6″×4.25″, 7″×5″, 8.5″×6″, 9″×6″, and 11″×6″), letter size(i.e., 8.5″×11″), tabloid size (i.e., 11″×17″), arch D. size (i.e.,24″×36″), and any other suitable sizes. It will also be understood thatthe shapes and geometries of the faceplates in FIG. 10 is merelyillustrative and that any other suitable shapes and geometries may beused.

FIGS. 11-13 show a different configuration of the faceplate, lens, andbacking plate of the sign and display system described above inconnection with FIGS. 2-9. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the back offaceplate 110 in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The back of faceplate 110 includes a recessed back surfacewith four round magnetics 112A-D, each located in a corner of therecessed back surface. Similar to magnets 39A-D, a portion of each ofmagnets 112A-D may extend below the plane of the recessed surface into arespective recess and a portion of each of magnets 112A-D may extendabove the recessed surface. In some embodiments, magnets 112A-D mayextend above the recessed surface an amount approximately equal to thethickness of the lens that is configured to be inserted into the recess.By locating the magnets in the corners of the recessed surface, it maybe possible to minimize the thickness of the frame of the faceplate(i.e., the distance between the external edge of the faceplate and theviewing aperture). FIG. 12 is a plan view of lens 120 in accordance withsome embodiments of the present disclosure. Lens 120 is configured tofit into the recess in the back surface of faceplate 110. Each corner oflens 120 includes a concave edge to accommodate the round shape ofmagnets 112A-D. In addition, the left and right edges of lens 120 eachincludes two convex protrusions configured to enter recesses (not shown)in the sides of the recess in the back of faceplate 110. FIG. 13 is aplan view of the front surface of backing plate 130 in accordance withsome embodiments of the present disclosure. Backing plate 130 isconfigured to fit into the recess in the back surface of faceplate 110.

It will be understood that the sign and display systems of the presentdisclosure can be used for various purposes. For example, the sign anddisplay systems may be used to display phone directories, officedirectories, art, artwork, pictures, business cards, employee names,office names or numbers, messages, any other suitable content orinformation, and any combination thereof. It will be also understoodthat the design of the disclosed sign and display systems enables thecontent to be easily changed by applying sufficient force on thefaceplate to overcome the force exerted by the at least one magnet toremove the faceplate. In some embodiments, the insert for displayingcontent may also include one or more recesses and/or apertures toaccommodate the one or more magnetics in the faceplate. In someembodiments, the surface of the at least one magnet may extend above therecessed back surface a distance approximately equal to the combinedthickness of the lens and insert. This may maximize the force exerted bythe at least one magnetic on the backing plate.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of thisdisclosure and various modifications may be made by those skilled in theart without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The abovedescribed embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and notof limitation. The present disclosure also can take many forms otherthan those explicitly described herein. Accordingly, it is emphasizedthat this disclosure is not limited to the explicitly disclosed methods,systems, and apparatuses, but is intended to include variations to andmodifications thereof, which are within the spirit of the followingclaims.

What is claimed:
 1. A system comprising: a faceplate comprising: a frontsurface; a back surface opposite the front surface; a recessed backsurface; four internal edges connecting the recessed back surface andthe back surface, wherein a recess is formed between the back surfaceand the recessed back surface, wherein the four internal edges form thesides of a rectangle, wherein the four internal edges do not extend tothe corners of the rectangle, and wherein first and second corners ofthe recess extend beyond respective first and second corners of therectangle formed by the four internal edges; and a viewing aperture,wherein when the faceplate is viewed perpendicular to the front surface,the viewing aperture enables one to see through the faceplate; first andsecond magnets located in respective first and second corners of therecess, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and secondmagnets is embedded in the recessed back surface, and wherein when thefaceplate is viewed perpendicular to the recessed back surface, at leasta portion of each of the first and second magnets extends beyond therectangle formed by the four internal edges; and a backing platecomprising: a first surface; and a second surface opposite the firstsurface, wherein the backing plate is configured to fit into the recessof the faceplate, and wherein when the backing plate is positioned inthe recess, the first surface of the backing plate is facing therecessed surface and the first and second magnets exert a force on thebacking plate to maintain the faceplate and backing plate together. 2.The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second magnets comprisefirst and second round magnets.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein thefaceplate further comprises four internal curved edges, wherein eachinternal curved edge connects two internal edges, wherein the edge ofthe recess is defined by the four internal edges and the four curvededges, and wherein each of the four internal curved edges extends beyonda respective corner of the rectangle formed by the four internal edgesforming a curved corner recess.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein thebacking plate comprises four straight edges and four curved edges suchthat each curved edge connects two straight edges, and wherein when thebacking plate is positioned in the recess of the faceplate, each of thefour curved edges of the backing plate are configured to fit into arespective curved corner recess.
 5. The system of claim 3, wherein eachof the four corners of the rectangle comprises an angle bisector axisand wherein each of the four internal curved edges is approximatelysymmetrical about the angle bisector axis of its respective corner. 6.The system of claim 5, wherein the first and second magnets comprisefirst and second round magnets and wherein the first and second roundmagnets are embedded in the faceplate such that each of the first andsecond round magnets is centered on the angle bisector axis of itsrespective corner.
 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising thirdand fourth magnets located in respective third and fourth corners of therecess, wherein at least a portion of each of the third and fourthmagnets is embedded in the recessed back surface, and wherein when thefaceplate is viewed perpendicular to the recessed back surface, at leasta portion of each of the third and fourth magnets extends beyond therectangle formed by the four internal edges.
 8. The system of claim 1,wherein the first and second magnets extend below the recessed backsurface of the faceplate.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the firstand second magnets protrude from the recessed back surface of thefaceplate.
 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising: a lenscomprising: a first surface; a second surface opposite the firstsurface, wherein the lens is configured to fit into the recess of thefaceplate such that the first surface of the lens is facing the recessedback surface of the faceplate; and first and second concave edgeslocated in respective first and second corners of the lens, wherein thefirst and second concave edges are shaped such that when the lens ispositioned in the recess of the faceplate, the first and second concaveedges accommodate the protrusion of the respective first and secondmagnets.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the lens comprises oppositefirst and second protrusions and wherein opposite internal edges of thefour internal edges comprise respective first and second recessesconfigured to receive the respective first and second protrusions of thelens when the lens is positioned in the recess of the faceplate.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the first and second recesses of theopposite internal edges each comprise a rectangular opening and aconcave shape.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and secondprotrusions of the respective first and second edges of the lenscomprise a convex shape.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein thedistance between the ends of the opposite first and second protrusionsis greater than the distance between the opposite internal edges,wherein the lens is capable of being elastically bent to reduce thedistance between the opposite first and second protrusions in order toenable the lens to be positioned in the recess, and wherein when thelens is positioned in the recess and when the lens is released from itsbent shape, the lens returns to its original shape thereby increasingthe distance between the opposite first and second protrusions andcausing the first and second protrusion to extend into the respectivefirst and second recesses.
 15. The system of claim 10, wherein the firstand second magnets comprise respective first and second visible surfaceswhen viewed perpendicular to the back surface, and wherein when the lensis positioned in the recess of the faceplate, the first and secondvisible surfaces and the second surface of the lens lie in the sameplane.
 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the front surface of thefaceplate is rectangular in shape.
 17. The system of claim 1, whereinthe viewing aperture of the faceplate is smaller in size than therecessed surface of the faceplate.
 18. The system of claim 1, whereinthe lens comprises a transparent medium.
 19. The system of claim 1,further comprising at least one sticky medium attached to the secondsurface of the backing plate, wherein the at least one sticky medium isconfigured to adhere to a wall surface.
 20. The system of claim 1,further comprising an insert upon which text and/or graphics may bepresented, wherein the insert can be positioned between the faceplateand the backing plate such that when the insert and backing plate arepositioned in the recess of the faceplate, the text and/or graphics arevisible through the viewing aperture when the faceplate is viewedperpendicular to the front surface.